First scout group to open in district for a generation

The 51 strong Fairfield Park Scout Group serves the community on the outskirts of Stotfold. It joins the Biggleswade Scout District, which has an impressive 1,200 members.

Two years in the planning, this new group is the first in the district for 34 years.

District commissioner Jan Brooker had to go back to 1980 when Arlesey Scout Group was formed to see what was needed.

She said: “It was quite a task but the district team soon drew up a to do list and set to work.”

Veteran Scout Leader Keith Downing came forward to run the group and he soon had a small team of enthusiastic parent volunteers from the estate to help.

Keith said: “There were a hundred and one things to do; premises to find, scarfs to design, new leaders to train and all the time the youngsters kept coming.

“The enthusiasm was catching but for several months I never had a day without some question to be answered. What a challenge!”

County commissioner Bob Calver said: “I’ve been sitting with the beavers and the atmosphere is electric. They are going to have lots of adventures and loads of challenges but that’s what scouting’s about. I know they’ll enjoy it.”

The beavers, cubs and scouts held their first meetings in January into the scout movement along with new uniforms and new scarfs. They were formally invested into the scout movement in March.

The celebrations included a specially designed scout group cake donated by Bronte Bakes.

The beavers, cubs and scouts meet on Mondays in the community centre, resuming on April 28 after the Easter holidays.

See www.facebook.com/
1stFairfieldParkScoutGroup or call Jan Brooker on 01462 819065 or janbrooker@virgin
media.com to find out how to join or how you can volunteer as an adult.

Alternatively go to www.scouts.org.uk and enter 1st Fairfield Park Scout Group.